Join Rick and Dan on this 3/4 mile easy trek into Sumpter National Forest. Station Cove Falls is the premier cove forest habitat in the Upstate to see Spring ephemerals. such at Trilliums, Mayapples, and much more. A grand reward at the trail’s end is Station Cove Falls!

Rick Huffman says,

“Station Cove Falls (also called Oconee Station Falls) is an ancient, timeless place where geology and plate tectonics have shaped and formed this land into what we see today. Each year the pilgrimage begins early in February and March to see the promise of a rich bounty of botanical treasures.

Few realize how botanically old this place is or understand the role of amphibolite (Mineral) plays in making this a botanical wonderland. Some have said it’s the best Cove Forest habitat on the Eastern Seaboard, some in authority have claimed this place to be the most ancient place for plants on the planet. From Blood Root, Trilliums, Mayapple, Violets, Rue Anemone, Hepatica and wood betony, we find ourselves in reverence of this place. We find salvation from our urban hectic lives and we feel at home. I have called this place ‘The Church’. It’s where I go to find that peace, that serenity, the sense of promise and renewal. The SCNPS has long held this place sacred and we go there on March 23rd to experience the wonders of creation and of time and place. Joins us as we make the journey back in time to find our peace today.”

You don’t want to miss this trip!! The outing will also include a excursion along the Estatoe at Nine Times Nature Preserve to view many more spring wildflowers.

Meet at 8am at Holly Springs Store, 6491 SC-11, Pickens, SC 29671, at the intersection of Hwy. 11 and SC 178. Bring water, lunch/snacks and dress in field clothing and hiking or sturdy walking shoes. A hiking stick is optional.

To sign up contact Rick Huffman at : <[email protected]>or call (864) 901-7583. Please include a cell phone number for last minute information. Please include the number in your party, whether or not you are willing to be a driver for carpooling, and how many riders you could accommodate.

Join the Upstate Native Plant Society on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:00 pm as landscaper Jon Fritz shares his expertise in a talk called, “Beyond the Bloom, Native Perennials for Form and Function”

The event is free and open to the public. Arrive at 6:30pm for socializing and refreshments.

The program will be held at Camperdown Academy at 65 Verdae Commons Dr, (not Verdae Blvd) Greenville. Verdae Commons Dr. is a fairly new road and may not show up on older map programs. If you are on Laurens Road, (276) heading north from I-85, cross E. Parkins Mill/ Verdae Blvd. The next intersection will be Henderson Rd.on left and Verdae Commons Dr. on the right. It is across Laurens Road from Bradshaw Mazda at 2512 Laurens Road. Turn right on Verdae Commons and go about 1/8 mile. Look for Camperdown Academy on the left. If you areheading south on Laurens Roadfrom Pleasantburg Rd, pass Haywood Rd and Woodruff Rd on your left. Look for Bradshaw Mazda on the right. Immediately see Henderson Rd. on the right/Verdae Commons Dr. on the left. Turn left onto Verdae Commons Dr. Go about 1/8 mile and look for Camperdown Academy on the left. Look for the SCNPS event signs. You can also put Bradshaw Mazda 2512 Laurens Rd in your map program and that will take you very close to the correct intersection.

We have a great selection of native plants with many hard-to-find species — colorful perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, ferns and edibles. Cash, check, or credit card accepted. Admission to the plant sale is free. If you wish to explore Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, please pay admission in the Visitor Center.

Exact quantities and species may change prior to the plant sale; we will do our best to keep this list accurate. If you have other questions, please contact Eddie Bernard ([email protected] or 843-270-1112)

On Tuesday, January 15 at 7:00pm at Landrum Depot in Landrum, SC, Rick Huffman will speak on Sustainable Landscape Applications and Applied Ecology. Rick Huffman is principal and founder of Earth Design Inc. with over 30 years of experience in, landscape design, horticulture, bio-engineering, and ecology. Come out an learn how to apply the principles of sustainable landscaping to your property. There is a way to retire the lawn mower, avoid expensive polluting fertilizers, and build a beautiful sustainable landscape on your property.

The program is free and open to the public. Arrive at 6:30 for socializing and refreshments. Landrum Depot is at 211 S 562, Landrum, SC 29356.

The Lowcountry Chapter will accept applications for community project grants until February 1, 2019. Please note that the point of contact for these projects has changed — please be sure to correspond with Mary Conley with any questions or applications.

The Upstate fall native plant sale is October 13 and 14 from 9am to 2pm each day. There is a wide selection of native trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, vines, ferns and some grasses. The sale is at the upstate NPS greenhouse at 180 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, just off of Mauldin Road and one mile from Conestee Park. Cash, checks and credit accepted. The greenhouse is on private property with limited parking. Carpooling suggested.

For a plant and price list, go to: https://scnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SCNPS_2018FallSalePlants_website.pdf

Fall is the best time to plant! Your new plants will have little stress from the heat and can develop a good root system as the soil cools. AND is it a lot more fun to dig holes in October and in June!

The Lowcountry Chapter of SCNPS is pleased to offer funding (up to $1,000) for projects that promote native plants in the 8 coastal counties of South Carolina. For more information, please see the attached flyer.